Experiments with fasting

The vacation is planned from 15th. As usual my weight started bothering me. At home all are loving and caring. They speak very wisely and select only topics that affect us little. But my misinterpretations offset their intention to placate.

“You have become fat and good. But look at him; he looks the same, worse."Which I interpret like this, I do everything to make me good and take little care of him or I cook badly. Very true sometimes, but the last thing I want them to know. Poor people, the last thing they meant were this from the small talk.

This time also there is chance for such talks. I must do something to reverse it.

This thought made me experiment fasting. Yesterday, fasted. Fasting started from day before yesterday soon after sunset. Yesterday after sun set, broke it. It was pretty easy and all went very well.

Nothing seemed to bother except... me being temperamental for a while at night. But could crack some jokes in between. So that was a minor trouble. I observed that as far as I am concerned tea is an unavoidable drink; the morning tea... Spend some time thinking whether to have or not have it. Then finally decided to have it, without which I would have gone very low. The last one hour was the hardest. I lit the lamp for prayer and started chanting hymns half an hour earlier. So fasting can advance us in the spiritual path. I gave up noodles, chocolate wafers, potato chips and the things I prepare for my son. So this enabled me to realize how I get fat in spite of having small amounts of regular meals. My stomach did reduce an inch or two. But today, after a regular day following the day of fasting, it has gone back to its previous state.

For the first time lunch was prepared before noon on a Friday. So my husband observed, “If you fast everything will run on time neatly.” I had prepared a colourful lunch for him; rice (white), Spinach (green), peas and plantains (brown) and traditional moru (curd) curry (yellow).

My fasting was far from the best. I drank water, tea, and honey in water and tasted the food items I cooked (not because I was hungry, but to ensure a tasty lunch). It’s always better to follow a scientific way of approach to fasting and to advance spiritually, incorporate religious days and methods.

These were the observations and conclusions of this fast. This was not my first fast. Years before I used to fast. In the last year of my college I had tried it several times. The first fast was simple; taking a meal in a day. Then the intensity of fasting gradually increased. Once I almost fainted after a day’s fast while returning home from the nearest temple. But, the enthusiasm to fast only increased.

At home no one had taught me to fast. In my childhood being hungry seemed an utopian idea. The numerous benefits of fasting attracted me. Weight loss, healing, cleansing the body and spiritual advancements are some of them. I would like to continue this practice a day per week.